Paul G. Benner

Jan 12, 2018

Paul Benner

Thomaston — Paul G. Benner, 33, died unexpectedly, while doing what he loved, ‘working on the water,’ Thursday, Jan. 4, 2018, at Long Cove in St. George.

Born in Rockport June 6, 1984, he was the son of Thurin G. and Elizabeth Waldron Benner. Paul’s first home was in St. George, where he began school at Gilford Butler School in South Thomaston. He later moved with his mom to Union, where he attended D.R. Gaul School.

While a student at that school, Paul found his "15 minutes of fame," when, while drinking from an army canteen he had received as a gift, his tongue became stuck in the opening of the canteen. The ensuing ambulance ride to the hospital, and cutting off of the canteen by a hospital surgeon, made its way to the popular TV Show, "Rescue 911."

Paul later attended Appleton Village School and ultimately graduated from Camden Hills Regional High School.

Having worked on the water from an early age, both clamming and sterning for local lobstermen, Paul continued in his love of the sea as a commercial fisherman, primarily out of New Bedford, Mass. He most enjoyed scalloping.

For the past several years, in addition to fishing, he worked with his cousin Nate at Benner Tree Service.

He loved growing up on "The Pond," Sennebec Lake in Appleton, where he particularly enjoyed swimming, four-wheeling, fishing and hunting with his PaPa, William"‘Bill" Waldron Sr.

He was an avid and accomplished deer hunter.

Paul was always a hard worker, a friend to anyone he met, and would do anything for anyone.

He was looking forward to building a house next summer, and had sawn much of the lumber for that venture.

Paul is survived by his mother, Elizabeth "Beth" Stambaugh, and her husband, Mark, of Appleton; his father, Thurin G. Benner, of St. George; his companion of more than seven years, Jodi Young, of Thomaston; three sisters, Nichole Moose and her husband, Jacob, of Thomaston, Jennica Sawyer and her husband, Mitchell, Samantha Benner, all of St. George; nieces and nephew Lilly, Gracie, Autumn, Oliver and Annibelle; as well as many aunts, uncles and cousins, both paternal and maternal.

A celebration of Paul’s life will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18, at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock St., Rockland. Pastor Mark Holden of Union Church of the Nazarene will officiate.

Those who wish may make memorial contributions to the Fisherman’s Memorial Fund, c/o Town of St. George, P.O. Box 131, St. George, ME 04857. Write "In Memory of Paul Benner" on check. To share a memory or story with Paul’s family, visit their online Book of Memories at bchfh.com.